Young people deprived by technology (letter)

by Angelique Barr

News Weekly, August 4, 2007

Sir,

Congratulations on your series of articles by Australian Family Association national secretary, Gabrielle Walsh, on the risks of personal web sites for young people (News Weekly, June 23 and July 7, 2007).

While some young people may possibly be seeking to achieve "mini celebrity" status, I also wonder if this isn't another aspect of the fear of relationship/commitment phenomenon of our times.

On the one hand, this communications technology can be used to reach out to others on a global scale, yet I wonder how much such action may be prompted by an inherent loneliness and a desire to be noticed.

At the same time, the phenomenon is also indicative of a lack of true human interaction, since a great facet of human communication is being lost in the process.

Psychologists agree that more than 60 per cent of the information we pick up when interacting with others occurs through body language, tone of voice and eye contact. Although usually noted at a subconscious level, this plays a great part in our perception of others — whether or not they are to be trusted for example.

To interact with others on such intimate levels, as described by Ms Walsh — web-diaries exposing personal information, for example — troubles me.

Young people may become so caught up in "cyber unreality" that they fail to learn the important and necessary lessons for real life interaction and relationships.